Paul put down the letter, and sighed. Clement started up, and exclaimed, "Why am I not rich? Why am I not a man of fortune?"—"How many daily utter that same wish!" said Paul: "all cannot be wealthy."—"If I had but a thousand pounds!" cried Clement impatiently pacing the room. "Two hundred would suffice," said Paul, "if you are thinking only of Fanny."—"Certainly, of whom, or of what else should I be thinking?"—"Well, then—here, in a postscript"—"The best part of a lady's letter," interposed Clement. "Here, my mother says, that Frank Pelham might form a very advantageous engagement, could he but command two hundred pounds."—"I will go beg, borrow or steal, the sum!" cried Clement. "Better go earn it!" said Paul. "Pshaw, don't talk of impossibilities!"—"Improbable, difficult, not impossible, brother."—"Yes, yes! quite impossible."—"By no means."—"Oh! then quickly, very quickly; dear Paul, instruct me, teach me, how to earn this precious sum!"
Paul smiled at his brother's eagerness; and then said, with a tone of deep feeling, "All our time is not occupied: some trifle could be gained by the employment of our leisure."—"Trifle, indeed!"—"However small, still it would be something."—"Nothing!"—"Nay, now, Clement, you do not speak with your usual good calculation. Something cannot be nothing."—"Yes, nothing!—I persist in it; nothing, as compared to what is needed."—"Your pardon, brother; in our circumstances, every guinea has its value."—"But the whole, the best, of our time is fully occupied."—"The best, but not the whole of it; our evenings for instance."—"Evenings of some three or four hours; and we harassed by our day's labour, wearied and half asleep!"—"Oh! but the hope of doing good would keep us awake, wide awake!"—"Oh! ridiculous! I shall think of nothing so silly!"—"Well then, what say you to trying to save a little?"—"Trying—accurately spoken, brother of mine—you may try; but to save—and out of a handsome income of one hundred and forty pounds a year!—Oh! rare device!"
Clement laughed aloud; Paul laughed too, but avowed his intention of trying to earn, and trying to save. His brother ridiculed what he termed his preposterous folly, and gave himself up to gayer fancies.
"If somebody would die, and leave me a handsome legacy!"—"We have not a rich friend or relative in the world."—"Oh! but some rich stranger! Such things have been:—why, pray, might it not happen to me?"—"I am sure I don't know," said Paul quietly. "And then Fanny, dear Fanny.—Heigho! for wedding favours! All should be right then."—"But now—" said Paul. "Now!—ay—that's the evil—now—I can do nothing."—"You mean, now you must do something, since fortune seems not likely to do aught for you." The brothers paused, and pondered. Clement suddenly started up: "I have it!—I have it!—I know what must be done!—I have saved a little money—I will go and buy a lottery ticket."—"Clement, my dear Clement, do nothing so unwise!" said Paul earnestly, as he saw his brother prepare to go out. "Stay me not, Paul!" exclaimed Clement vehemently, "unless you can suggest wiser means."—"Any measure were wiser."—"I think not so. Let go my arm."—"Brother, hear me but a moment."—"I have been listening to you this hour, good Paul," cried Clement, rushing forwards. "But what I would urge, was my father's dying exhortation." Clement stood still, and looked attentive. Paul continued: "Do you not remember, as we watched him during the last cruel night—do you not remember, he said, 'Boys, depend upon your own exertions; harass not yourselves with chances of fortune; nor rely on help from others.'"—"Yes, I remember those words! I remember, too, he bade us succour our mother and sisters."—"See you not, the last command is involved in the first?"—"Say, rather, the last command supersedes every other."—"It does; and therefore would I counsel you to do that which shall best enable you to fulfil it."
Clement had a very warm heart, and a very clear head; but he had too often indulged himself in yielding to the impulse of the moment, to allow of much self-command. He was too apt to act first, and reflect afterwards; and thus often prepared for himself many disappointments and vexations. The brothers were twins. There subsisted between them the similarity of persons and minds so frequent in those so related. Paul had equally quick feeling, and healthy judgment. The only perceptible difference was caused by his different mode of self-management. Aware of his impetuous temper, he had habituated himself to reflect before he acted.
Clement flew away to the Lottery office: Paul sat down to think. His cogitations were long; for, alas! it was too true, that his situation was humble, his power limited, his resources few; but he had health, he had ability, he had energy; his case was not hopeless; and when Clement returned to the apartment Paul had decided on his future plan of conduct.
The bounding step, the flushed cheek, and bright eye, with which Clement entered, shewed his commission had been accomplished. The excitement was beyond pleasure, for it was agitation; and the doubt of how far he had done well, came across his gay anticipation and somewhat damped delight.
Paul was not one to give advice, when advice was too late; or to boast of having warned when that warning had been neglected. He saw the ticket, or rather quarter ticket, for they were just then at an enormous premium the high prizes all undrawn, and the quarter had cost ten pounds.
"The ten pounds—" "I had prepared for my mother's Christmas gift, even so Paul; but now, perhaps, she will have ten hundred."—"Perhaps?"—"Oh! my dear Paul, do not so needlessly, so cruelly, damp my ardour!"—"I will not; you shall never again hear a word from me on the subject."—"Thank you, brother."—"But my mother must be prepared for the probable,—forgive me, Clement,—for the possible non-arrival of her usual Christmas-box:—for, if you cannot send yours, I certainly will not send mine."—"Generous Paul! You would spare me all mortifying comparisons."—"My dear Clement, we will both do the best we can; and I will tell you what are my projects: to reduce my expenditure as much as I can; and to seek more employment."—"Reduce your expenditure! My good brother, how is that to be done? Our present system is abundantly modest."—"But might be rendered more so."—"As how?"—"In a cheaper quarter, I could obtain cheaper accommodation."—"We pay eighty pounds per annum here; little enough for food and lodgement."—"Yes, but here we have superfluities."—"Superfluities! In what may they consist?" exclaimed Clement, laughing immoderately.